David and Tristan

DAVID & TRISTAN-BOYS IN SCHOOL is a continuation of the story, Boys on the Farm, about two teen boys named David and Tristan. It is a story of discovery...what the boys learn about life, about themselves, and what it means to be gay. If sex between male teenagers is offensive to you or if you are underage then you should move on to something else.

DAVID & TRISTAN--BOYS IN SCHOOL is a work of pure fiction -- the characters and the events do not represent any person or situation. Copyright (c)2002 by D.Z., all rights reserved. You may contact me by emailing ndman72@yahoo.com.

PREFACE:

Whenever I start a new chapter I look for something that has made a real impression on me to put in this space. It is usually an email that gives me inspiration and makes me think that it may be of benefit to someone else. This one is from a young man who goes by the name of Daniel who shared his personal journey of coming to terms with being gay with me and gave me permission to share it with all of you. Here's what he had to say:

"We have all had our share of laughter and tears so far in our lives, some of us have shed more tears, some of us have spent many nights crying ourselves to sleep with just one question in our minds: WHY ME? Coming out, as far as I know, is never a very happy time in our lives. Even if we have understanding friends and family we often find out that we have problems accepting our sexuality ourselves. I was like that, my family have given me all the support and love that anyone could ever want, I always knew that no matter what my family is going to be there when I have surrendered, I always knew that they would be there to lift me off of my knees, push my chin up high and give me a shove in the right direction, helping me face anything that life could throw at me.

When I was a little kid I had all these dreams. I wanted to grow up and become a Doctor. I wanted to have a wife. I wanted kids, a boy and a girl. I wanted a big car. I would think of taking my kids to the park in that car on weekends. I would spend days thinking of how much fun that would be. I used to see my Dad and think: "That's what I want, I want to have a life just like his." But then, as time went by I started realizing that's not what I really want. I didn't like girls, I liked boys. Loving my family as much as I do, it was pretty hard for me to realize that I am never going to have a family of my own. Because I didn't want one. The thoughts that went through my head were very complicated and very sad. I used to see myself with a beautiful woman by my side, I would see my kids, I would dream of a happy and fulfilling life. Then I would see a grumpy old man, he had spent all his life alone, never had anyone to love, never had anyone to love him, and then when his time comes for him to move on he has only the tortures of hell to look forward to. I cried, every night, every day, every hour, minute, second....... I cried deep inside, always asking that question: "WHY ME?"

My dad was having problems as well back then. He is an alcoholic and at the time that I needed him the most he was spending his life in alcohol induced stupor. People saw how I was acting, how I was depressed all the time and how nothing seemed to make me happy anymore and they blamed it on my dad's disease. My dad was attending AA meetings here and somebody got it into my mother's head that if I attended the Alateen meetings for teenage children of alcoholics it might help me. I was petrified, I didn't want to go to the meetings. I didn't want to be forced to say anything. I didn't want to say the prayers at the beginning. I hadn't been to church for a long time, I felt guilty, I felt ashamed, I didn't want to go. No matter what excuses I made to my Mom she didn't listen to me. She came along with me. I went to church that Friday where the meeting was held. That was the only time that I ever went to one of those meetings but I brought something back with myself that has given me the strength to live until now.

At the beginning of the meeting we all held hands and said the prayer, God, Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can And wisdom to know the difference. To me that prayer makes sense above everything else in life. Every time I feel down I say that prayer and I feel infinitely better. I have it written on a very big piece of papyrus in a very beautiful handwriting. I have it hanging above my couch in my small apartment. Every time I walk into my little studio apartment, those beautiful lines are the first thing I see. Every time I walk out and turn back to close the door those lines are the last thing I see. I go to Church every weekend since I don't feel guilty anymore, I don't feel ashamed.

Now I have a beautiful life and I live only by one simple rule. Whenever I want to do something, no matter how small or insignificant, I always ask myself this question: "If I do this will it affect ANYONE in a bad way?" and If the answer to that is "No" then I go on and do it! :) Now I live a very beautiful life, I have lots of friends, and I am a friend to lots. I don't waste my time worrying about what other people think of me. I know that if everything goes wrong I still have the Love of My Father, and that's all that matters to me. So there, that's my story. I don't know if the way I am living my life is acceptable, if it's right or it's wrong. But it works for me."

OK, it's me, DZ, again. That was long email but I HAD to include all of it. Daniel had a rough time emotionally until he found self acceptance. He had to give up his childhood dreams and move on to fashion a new set of dreams consistent with the reality he recognized within himself. What gave him the impetus was the deeper truth contained within the Serenity Prayer. Each of us can learn from Daniel. Thank you, Daniel, for writing and showing how you found your answer to the question of, " Why Me?"

CHAPTER 15. THE CIRCLE GROWS.

Sunday evening found Tristan on the phone in the kitchen. "Hello, Drew? This is Tristan. Hey, I was wondering if we could work together on our Science homework?"

"Yeah, I guess so. Anthony is over here with me. Hey Anth, you mind if Tristan comes over to work on some science stuff?"

Anthony's reply was indistinct to Tristan's ear and he could tell they had a short discussion. Was it because Drew covered the mouthpiece of the phone with his hand? Tristan wasn't sure, but it seemed that way to him.

"Um, Tristan, we can do that if you come over here, OK?" Drew said when he turned his attention back to the telephone.

"Sure, is it OK if I come now?" Tristan made sure that his timing wasn't interrupting anything.

"Yeah, now would be good," Drew's deep bass voice rumbled through the phone receiver.

"OK, I'm on my way," Tristan said. "See you in five minutes. Bye." Tristan said and hung up the phone with wry shake of his head. Drew had such a sexy voice and if he wasn't in love with David, Tristan could sure go for that beautiful specimen of teen maleness. Drew's voice could find its way right down to his balls when he talked low like that. "Dad, I'm going over to Drew's to do my science," Tristan called out to his dad as he prepared to leave.

"What time will you be home?" came the answer.

"Oh, I'll be home by 10. If David gets home early from church and calls, tell him I'm over at Drew's OK?"

"Yeah, OK. Behave yourself."

"Dad, I always do. Bye."

Tristan hopped on his bike and rode over to Drew's house, using the shortcuts he knew like the back of his hand. True to his word, he was there in five minutes and knocking on the back door.

Drew's mom let him in and Tristan went straight to Drew's bedroom. The door was closed. He rapped on the door with his knuckles saying, "Hey, it's me Tristan. Can I come in?"

The muffled reply came back, "Just a sec."

Tristan leaned against the wall, wondering why those two needed a second to come to the door. Was it really true they were boyfriends? Tristan was consumed with curiosity.

After what seemed to be an extraordinarily long wait, Drew opened the door. "Well just don't stand there, come on in," Drew said as he pulled Tristan inside.

"Like what was the holdup?" Tristan complained with a smirk.

"It was all Anthony's fault," Drew grinned.

Anthony threw a pillow at him when he said that. "Shut up, Drew. You liar," he sputtered.

Tristan's head swiveled from one to the other. He could tell something was up, but he couldn't tell who to pin it on. "Yeah, right," he said, "so Anthony will just watch us do our science then?" he asked.

"Anthony has some English to do so he can work on that while we do our science."

"Um, where are we going to work?" Tristan asked looking around Drew's room. It appeared that Anthony's English assignment was spread over Drew's desk.

"You mind just sitting on the bed and doing it?" Drew asked.

"Nah, if I can lie down I'd like it even more."

"No prob. Kick off your shoes and get homely."

Anthony snorted out a little laugh. He went over to the desk and started working on his English while Drew and Tristan laid on the bed working on their science questions. Anthony kept looking over at them, itching to be on the bed with his Drew, instead of Tristan taking his spot. He snapped his book shut and announced, "There, I'm done with my stupid English." Anthony hopped off the chair and walked over to stand in front of the two other boys. He placed his hands on his hips looking down at them, "You know, I'd give you all the right answers but you guys have all your crap in the way," Anthony hinted.

Both Drew and Tristan looked over at Anthony. "You aren't even in the class," Tristan said, "so how would you know the answers?"

Anthony just stood there with his hands on his hips.

Drew smiled over at his little buddy, knowing Anth was feeling left out. "Yeah, just chill out for a few more minutes and we'll have this done."

"You mean like this?" Anthony giggled as he plopped himself onto Drew.

Momentarily nonplussed, Drew's shocked glance met Tristan's speculative look. Drew feverishly wondered how was he going to get Anthony off of him without just dumping him on the floor. Inspiration struck and Drew's long fingers dug their way into Anthony's ribs, tickling him unmercifully.

Anthony convulsed into shrieks of laughter punctuated by his cries, "Don't...tickle me....like that....Drew! Drew!"

Naturally Drew kept at it and straightened his legs thereby sending Anthony sliding to the floor.

"That's not fair," Anthony complained as he got up from the floor.

"Who said you should do that?" Drew asked a tad defensively for Tristan's benefit.

"I did," Anthony declared as Tristan looked on intently.

"We just have three more questions left to find the answers to and then you can jump on Drew," Tristan teased the other two with a knowing smirk.

Drew squirmed in place as he tried to reacquire his dignity while his blush announced his discomfort with the situation. "You can sit down on the bed," Drew amended.

Unabashed, Anthony sat down by Drew, leaned on him and waited as he looked on.

"What's the answer for question number 8 then?" Drew asked as he looked over at Tristan, gauging his reaction. "Did Tristan 'know'? Could he tell?"

Tristan flipped a few pages in the textbook he was holding before saying, "Here it is. Charles Darwin published the Origin of the Species in 1859."

"Good. Next question. What did Darwin call the process by which evolution was advanced?"

Tristan's finger moved further down the page as he scanned for the answer. "Natural selection." Both boys hurriedly wrote the answer in their notebooks.

"Last one. According to science, which species is mostly closely related to Homo Sapiens? Give both its common name and its scientific name."

"I know the answer to that one," Anthony interjected.

"What?" Drew looked up and smiled at the smaller boy he loved.

"Stubby Owens, Stupidous Hominid," and Anthony giggled at his cleverness.

Drew and Tristan laughed along with Anthony before Tristan answered, "No, Stubby isn't the answer Mr. Buchholz will count. It's chimpanzee and Pan troglodyte."

"How do you spell that?" Drew asked.

"Which one? Chimpanzee or Pan troglodyte?" Tristan asked with a smirk.

"You think I'm a dumb ass there Cochran?" Drew challenged in a friendly way.

"Did I say you were?" Tristan defended himself.

Off to the side, Anthony was giggling quietly. "And what's with you Twirp?" Tristan asked.

"Oh nothing," Anthony said but continued to grin.

"It was too something," Drew retorted. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Anthony said as he shook his head 'no'.

"Yes it is. So what are you thinking?" Drew asked.

"I can't say it," Anthony said coyly.

"Gonna tell me later Little Man?"

Anthony shrugged one shoulder.

"You'd better tell me or you'll get the 'treatment'," Drew threatened.

"Should I be scared?" Anthony teased. "just what treatment would that be?"

"The Tickle Torture."

Tristan wrote the final answer in his note book, snapped his book closed and gathered his things. "OK Anthony, we're done so he's all yours now."

"Yup, I know," Anthony said simply.

Drew was picking up his books when he heard that. Before Anthony knew what hit him Drew snatched him into a headlock next to him. "I think you are all mine now and you're gonna pay for jumping on me."

"Nuh uh," Anthony said and he squirmed trying to get loose. As hard as he squirmed, he couldn't get away. Drew had his head jammed into his armpit and his muscular arm was like a vise. Anthony's shirt rode up his back, revealing his slender torso whereupon Drew used his free hand to tickle Anthony's ribs. Anthony convulsed with laughter, jerking and flinging his legs to and fro as he fought valiantly to escape.

Tristan got into the act then and captured Anthony's legs.

"Noooo, don't tickle me any more," Anthony gasped out. "I give, I GIVE!"

Tristan stood up and gathered his books. "Have fun you two, I have to get home before David calls."

Drew simply looked over and smiled as he released Anthony's head. "OK, see you tomorrow Tristan."

Anthony sat up and rearranged his clothes. "What's up with that?" he asked. "You and David boyfriends or what?"

Tristan's head jerked back in total shock. "What would make you say something like that?" he blurted back.

"Cuz you said David was calling you like it was something important to you," Anthony smirked.

"Uh, David and I are friends. Why shouldn't I want him to call?" Tristan decided to beat a retreat. "Uh, see you guys later," and he left.

Drew and Anthony just looked at each other before Drew got up, closed the door and went back to what they were doing before Tristan arrived.

MONDAY NOON

Lunch was always the highlight of the day at school. Not only did the boys pack away the food their famished bodies were demanding, but they also looked forward to the time of social activity. After they ate some of the kids went to hang out and chase women, others not so inclined often went to a store in order to buy goodies for the afternoon. David and Tristan always made some excuse or another to slip away from the crowd, usually stating it was a good time for them to study before the afternoon classes.

"Time to go study," Tristan prompted David as they were finishing their lunch that day.

"Yeah," David agreed with a hint of a smile for Tristan. He gathered his eating utensils onto his tray and stood up saying to the remaining guys, "See you all later."

"Yeah, see you later Drew, Anthony," Tristan said to their two friends next to him. Tristan rose with David and they purposefully moved to dispose of the contents of their trays before heading towards their lockers. Tristan was still speculating about what he saw over at Drew's last night. "I can't stop thinking about Drew and Anthony. I'm about 95% sure they are like us," Tristan told David as they strode through the halls. "They spend every minute they can together during the day and Drew always waits for Anthony at lunch time, you know?"

"Yeah, so you've told me twice already today," David reminded Tristan. "So how are you going to be 100% sure?"

"I don't know exactly, but I'll be keeping my eye on those two and pretty soon I'll know for sure."

Reaching their lockers, the two boys rapidly spun their combination locks, opened the doors and pulled out the books they needed for their early afternoon classes. Once in a while they actually did study, but not today. There was something they were waiting for much higher on their list of priorities.

"You ready?" David asked Tristan as he stood there waiting for Tristan to finish rummaging around in his locker.

"OK, I've got what I need now," Tristan said as he stood up with his art pencils in his hand. "These damn pencils always fall to the bottom of my locker," he complained.

"You need something to keep them in," David suggested wryly.

"Yeah, but I never get around to it. I'm not as organized as you, you know that," Tristan reminded David unnecessarily as they began heading for their special noon rendezvous.

Both of them had come to treasure this time of the day, when they had the privacy they craved to be close and to grab a kiss or two. And, as usual, David led the way in and carefully balanced his books on the sinks before spinning around in the corner, waiting.

Tristan flipped off a light switch, creating soft shadows in the room before he slowly advanced and gathered David into his arms. They held each other tightly, swaying slightly as each of them soaked up the feel and the smell of the boy in their arms. Tristan nestled his face along David's smelling his shampoo and feeling the silkiness of his hair on his face. Gently at first, they kissed tenderly, touching lips and kissing several soft kisses, before their passion demanded more. Their kissing became more intense as they poured their feelings into it, and created stirrings in their groins. David was the first to pull back. He reached up to gently touch Tristan's face. "I love you, but we can't get carried away in here you know," he reminded Tristan.

"Why not?" Tristan asked. "No one comes here this time of day. They don't, do they?" he reminded David.

"Well, they could you know," David held his ground.

"Just one more kiss then," Tristan said as he pressed his lips to David's once more and pulled David tightly to him. David surrendered himself to Tristan's logic and opened his mouth, inviting his lover's tongue to enter. Tristan moaned contentedly, "Mmmm".

At that very moment, the outer bathroom door boomed open. The two of them sprang apart instantly. But it was too late. Whoever it was in the dimly lit bathroom with them flipped on the bright lights once more. Both boys spun apart to stare at the intruder. The bright light revealed Drew standing there, gaping.

"What the hell is going on here?" Drew demanded. "I've been wondering where you two disappear to every noon and find you in here with the lights half off." Drew eyed both of the other two boys up and down, scrutinizing them with a shocked look on his face. There was no mistaking the scared, guilty look on David's face, nor the pronounced tent in Tristan's pants. David's face was white, but Tristan's face was red as could be, automatically flushed with shock and anger at Drew's temerity.

"Why the fuck did you have to come busting in here like that?" Tristan nearly screamed. He didn't quite understand the fury that pulsed through his veins but he stalked towards Drew with his fists clenched. How dare Drew come looking for them, interrupting their loving and the perfect moment they were lost in!

Drew actually backed up two steps before Tristan's rage and raised his hands into a pacifying gesture. "Uh, just cool down Tristan, OK? Let's talk this out...I'm your friend, remember?"

"What kind of friend are you then Drew?" Tristan demanded with heat still in his voice.

David stood silently watching the tableau, the adrenalin coursing through his body and making him shake. He swung his eyes to the ground and the two larger boys watched his chest raise and fall rapidly. With each passing second David began breathing heavier when suddenly he rushed towards the stalls. The gush of vomit was heard as David's stomach emptied itself.

"Don't you fucking dare leave," Tristan ordered as he stepped around Drew to go to David.

"I won't," Drew answered stoutly as he swiveled around watching Tristan warily.

Tristan rested a hand on David's back, who was on bent over the toilet with his hands on his knees, spitting.

"You OK there David?" Tristan asked his lover softly.

David's reply ripped through Tristan's heart. "Fuck no."

"We gotta talk to him, David," Tristan said while holding his hand on David's back.

David sighed raggedly, "Yeah, I know."

"Maybe you should rinse out your mouth first, huh?" Tristan suggested.

"Yeah." David moved silently towards the sinks, glancing up at Drew only once.

Tristan followed David and then stood to one side, watching Drew silently. As David turned around, Tristan broke the strained silence. "How good of a friend are you?" he repeated his earlier question.

Drew's head came up and he looked Tristan straight in the eye. "I'm your second best friend after David. You know that."

"You sure about that? No matter what?" Tristan questioned immediately.

"As long as it isn't something illegal, yes."

"I think you understand what you saw in here Drew," Tristan asserted boldly after a moment's thought. "I think you know exactly what you saw, don't you?"

Drew nodded his head, "Yeah, I saw you guys kissing."

David moaned, "I'm fucked."

Tristan wheeled around and went over to David, slipping one arm around the guy he loved. "No Davie, we're not. Because Drew and Anthony have done the same exact thing, haven't you?" and he looked right into Drew's eyes as he said that.

It was Drew's turn to look shocked. "How did you know?" he asked hoarsely.

"I've been watching you guys," Tristan said. "All the signs were there if you knew what to look for. And I'd bet money you two have done more than just kiss."

Even with his darker skin, the blush that spread up over Drew's face was magnificent.

Tristan turned his head towards David to say, "See David, I told you they were boyfriends. You don't have to worry about anything because if they out us, we out them." Tristan turned back to Drew who was still blushing hotly. "But I also have this feeling since we are best friends and all that it won't be a problem, right Drew?"

Drew's mouth worked silently and he swallowed before he could speak. "Yeah, you're right. Not a problem. And you knew?" he asked Tristan incredulously.

"Oh yeah, I was pretty damn sure," Tristan said with a hint of a smile cracking the tension. "And we were glad for you, weren't we David?" he added.

"Um, yeah, we were. I mean we are," David said hastily.

"So are you going to keep this just between us?" David asked Drew anxiously.

"Oh yeah, definitely" Drew answered. "Here, I'll show ya," Drew said and he walked over to the other two boys drawing them into a three way hug and saying in their ears, "Now does this convince you guys?"

"Oh yeah," Tristan said happily.

"Yeah," was David's more reserved reply.

"I can tell Anthony can't I?" Drew asked as he drew back a little to see their faces.

David looked at Tristan for a moment before answering, "Only if we see you guys kiss like we were so we're even."

"Seriously?" Drew asked looking at Tristan.

"Yeah seriously," Tristan answered. "Then everyone has the same stakes in this. Only one other person in school knows about us and he swore a serious oath to keep our secret so I don't think it's too much to ask. Is it a deal Drew?"

"So like where do we do it?" Drew asked.

"Right here, right after school. And we get to see you do it."

"Yeah, good idea," David agreed. "So are you going to go along with it?"

"Oh maaaan," Drew complained. "I can't tell him alll afternoon?"

"Nope, and besides you won't see him but for a minute cuz there's the bell." Tristan stated. "And we'll know if you tell him in advance and that won't be fair."

David and Tristan picked up their books and prepared to head for class. On their way out the door David asked a question that had been bothering him. "Drew, what was so important that you would come looking for us? And where's Anthony?"

"Oh, uh, Anthony had to go to a meeting for the Pep Club, so I, ah, didn't have anything to do and was wondering where you guys disappeared to at noon. I just thought I would hang out with you."

Tristan was perplexed by that. "But Drew," he said, "how did you know to look in there? We could have been anywhere."

"Yeah, but I asked around if anyone had seen you and Suzie Johnson told me she saw you guys heading this way."

"Oh, OK. Here's my class. See you later Drew, bye David."

For three boys the afternoon hours crawled by. Drew was nervous. Tristan was about to bust with anticipation. David was just plain starved after having lost his lunch from the scare Drew gave him. But finally, finally, school was dismissed for the day.

Drew stood with David and Tristan after school let out waiting for Anthony to come swiftly strolling up as he was wont to do everyday at that time. "There you are," exclaimed Drew with a smile for the lithe boy he loved. "We have to talk with David and Tristan for a minute Anthony, in private."

"Bout what?" Anthony asked, crooking an eyebrow.

"It's private stuff," David almost growled. "You'll find out when we're alone."

Anthony looked at Drew who nodded reassuringly. "OK, if you say so. Where do we go?"

"To the bathroom," Tristan replied. "Lead the way, Drew," Tristan directed.

Drew did just that, followed by Anthony, then David and Tristan. Once they had entered both doors of the bathroom, Drew turned around and said, "Kay, David and Tristan, stand against the door." Then he turned and looked deep into Anthony's eyes before saying softly, "Anthony, do you trust me?"

Anthony began to get scared and his voice trembled a little when he replied. "I think so Drew, but what is this? You guys aren't going to do something to hurt me are you?" He looked at David and Tristan blocking the door and asked nervously, "Do you think I did something wrong? I swear Drew, I didn't!"

Drew stepped to Anthony at that moment, grabbed him into his arms and pressed his lips firmly on Anthony's mouth. Anthony stiffened in Drew's arms immediately, but as Drew's kiss continued, Anthony forgot about protesting. His arms went around Drew's neck and returned the kiss with obvious feeling.

"Nice," Tristan commented as they kissed.

"Yeah, that Drew can kiss can't he?" David joked.

Breaking apart, Drew and Anthony shared a slight smile before Anthony turned around to look at David and Tristan. "Is that what you guys wanted, to see him kiss me?" Anthony asked. "So you could tell everyone I'm gay? Is that it?"

"No, that's not it," David said. "Come here Tris, let's show him." Tristan and David stepped into each other's arms and joined their lips together, kissing in a very relaxed and familiar way.

"Son of a bitch! I knew it! I knew it all the time!" Anthony all but shouted with glee. "So why did Drew have to kiss me before you guys would come out?" he asked much quieter.

"Cuz I caught them kissing in here today at noon," Drew rumbled in a low and very amused voice. "So the only way they said I could tell you is if they saw me kissing you. Tristan already guessed about us."

"So, you guys really are gay?" Anthony asked intently.

Tristan and David traded long looks. Neither spoke.

Finally David cleared his throat and said, "Yeah, we're gay."

Tristan had to ask at this point, "And how long have you two been boyfriends?"

Anthony looked up into Drew's stunning blue eyes questioningly.

"So tell him Little Man," Drew said with love in his eyes. "We don't have to hide it from them."

"Well, for me ever since that first football game when Drew helped me," Anthony stated matter-of-factly. "I'm not exactly sure when Drew felt that way."

"You know when," Drew said. "In my bedroom that day."

Tristan burst out in a belly laugh. "Oh man, you don't waste any time do you Anthony?"

Anthony's face blushed about five shades of bright red. He looked up at David and Tristan and then for once in his life he had nothing to say. He looked down at the floor and finally moved over to melt into Drew's side.

"Aw, aren't they cute?" Tristan laughed. "Come here stud and hug me."

David pulled Tristan into a quick hug and placed a quick kiss on his cheek saying, "We need to be getting to football practice Tris, we're late."

Drew kissed Anthony on top of his head and said, "Yeah, he's right. We'd better go. Football practice is waiting and we have a game this Friday."

TUESDAY 7:40 A.M.

"I wonder where Sean is this morning?" Tristan asked as he looked up at the clock. "He's late for our trio rehearsal."

"Yup, can't do much this morning without him singing the tenor part, can we?" Drew agreed.

"It's not like him to be late though," Tristan observed, "he's always five minutes early.

"Yeah, so let's talk about something else while we have the chance." Drew toned his voice down even deeper and bent towards Tristan, "What did David say after practice yesterday about me and Anthony?"

Tristan looked over at Drew and grinned. "Oh, not much. You know David. He's a man of action, not words."

Drew laughed. "Yeah, so I noticed."

Tristan's smile widened at Drew before he answered, "That's the new David that only I've seen until yesterday. But it took me a long time to get him to open up with me even in private. How about Anthony? What did he think of us?"

Drew leaned back and smirked. "What do you think? He was totally shocked when I kissed him, then shocked again when David kissed you, and then he said he was dancing on air the whole time we were at practice." Drew continued speaking in a low voice with his head bent close to Tristan's. "And he said although he was pretty sure you two were boyfriends, to know for sure was awesome. He talked about it the whole way home after practice. He said he can hardly wait for all of us to hang out together by ourselves sometime."

"Sure thing, that would be cool. Maybe we can do it at my house. Or we could even go over to this guy's house who likes me and David and hot tub together."

"Yeah, you told me about that before. What's his name again?"

"Craig."

"Oh yeah."

Just as those words left Drew's mouth, the door to the music room opened slowly. Sean crept into the room timidly. "Uh, sorry I'm late. I kinda overslept," he apologized with his head hanging down. And it was obvious that Sean's morning wasn't off to a good start. His hair was spiked and it had that "bedhead" look. Beyond that his clothes looked like they had been slept in.

"Aw, that's OK," Drew said right away. "Shit happens."

"Yeah, we still have some time to practice Sean, so all is OK," Tristan smiled at him.

"OK, whatever," Sean said dispiritedly.

"Bad night or something huh?" Drew asked with his eyebrows raised.

"Yeah, bad night," Sean repeated dully. "Let's start then."

Tristan hit the chord on the piano and they gathered close together as they prepared to sing. "Holy shit!" Tristan exclaimed out of the blue. "What the hell happened to your back?"

Sean visibly cringed. "What about my back? It's nothing."

"Like hell it's nothing. Drew, look here. There's blood on his back."

Drew bent backwards and looked over at Sean's back. "Oh fuck. What happened to your back man?" he asked with obvious compassion.

Sean just stood there, the tears trickling down his face, saying nothing.

"Sean, talk to us. You have bloody lines in your T-shirt. Who did this to you?" Drew demanded.

Tristan moved over in front of Sean and reached out to hold Sean's shoulders.

"Sean, you can trust us. Tell us who did this to you and we'll kick their ass."

"No, you can't," Sean half sobbed.

"Why the hell not?" Tristan demanded angrily.

"Cuz, you can't kick his ass. He'd hurt you too and I couldn't live with that."

"Oh fuck that. Who did this to you?" Drew demanded.

Tristan asked, "Sean, can I lift up your shirt and look? It's still bleeding."

"I dunno."

"I'll just peek at it, OK?" Tristan said gently.

"If you hafto," Sean said quietly.

Tristan moved around to Sean's backside and very gently pulled up his shirt.

"Oh my God," Drew breathed when he looked with Tristan. "Sean, it doesn't look good at all. What happened to you?"

The tears dropped faster off of Sean's face, each one in escape of his shame. His knees buckled underneath him while he choked back deep sobs with gulping noises. The desolate boy buried his face in his hands to hide his shame before he spoke with words that were ripped out of his soul. "My dad did it. He whipped me."

"Oh God," Tristan whispered in horror. "Why would your dad ever want to do that to you?"

"Sean, we need to report this," Drew said.

Sean's head snapped up from the cradle of his arms at the sound of Drew's words. "NO!" he screamed, almost in pure terror. "Don't, do you want me to die?"

Drew's blue eyes widened as he heard that. "Then what? You want to go back to that?" he asked.

"No, noooooo," Sean sobbed as he dropped his face back down, rocking back and forth in anguish.

Tristan knelt down beside Sean. "So what should we do Sean?"

"I dunno. I have no place to go."

"Oh yes you do," Tristan said. "We're going to my place. And we can figure out what to do there, OK?" he asked softly, his face near Sean's.

"No...don't trouble yourself...I'm not worth it," Sean sobbed.

"Fuck that shit," Drew said. "You're our friend and you are too worth it!"

Tristan looked up at Drew. "You coming too?"

"Damn straight!" Drew asserted. "Let's go Sean. No one needs to know where we are until we figure out what to do so you'll be safe, OK?"

Sean raised a tear streaked face. "You sure?"

"Yeah, damn sure," Drew said forcefully.

"Me too," Tristan seconded. "Come on, let us help you here," Tristan reached to lift Sean by the arm and nodded at Drew to do the same. Together they gently urged him to his feet.

Sean stood up weakly and wiped the tears away with balled fists. A final sob shuddered its way through his body. "I don't want anyone to see me like this," Sean whispered.

"Uh yeah," Drew said looking around.

Tristan said, "We'll go out the back fire escape then. It's just a short way down the hall, remember?"

"Oh yeah," Drew said. "I forgot about that. Let's go then."

"You ready Sean?" Tristan asked gently.

"Yeah, I guess. Let's go before someone else sees me."

Drew took the lead while Tristan stuck close to Sean. They ducked down the hall and slipped out the fire door and then ran across the school yard before someone would notice. once they were away from the school grounds they slowed their speed to a jog since Sean was obviously struggling to keep up because Of his shorter legs. As they cut through the park on the way to Tristan's house, they could hear multiple sirens in the distance.

"God, listen to those sirens," Tristan panted. "Wonder what's going on?"

"Dunno," Drew replied as he breathed heavily, "but you can bet it isn't good."

"Do you suppose they are looking for me?" Sean said fearfully.

"I don't know for sure," Tristan said. "I kinda doubt it but we'll soon be to my house and then they won't find us."

"OK," Sean said as he looked around with panic on his face. The boys continued their pace right up until they reached the steps to Tristan's house and piled inside. They stood in the kitchen and caught their breath while Drew and Tristan looked at each other wondering what to do next.

"Now what?" Drew asked.

Tristan was standing next to Sean and could smell a rank body odor from the boy. "We need to get you cleaned up some here Sean," Tristan stated as he wrinkled his nose. "Let's get you into the shower and then I'll get you some of my clothes to wear. How's that?" he asked the smaller boy.

"I dunno," Sean answered doubtfully. "You are so much bigger than me, your clothes won't fit."

"Oh," Tristan laughed a little. "I have some memory clothes that my dad has saved. You can wear those cuz they will be more your size. You wanna go and find them before you shower?"

"Yeah," Sean answered shyly.

"OK, come with me and we'll look for some." Tristan lead Sean into his bedroom and pulled out a box from the back of his closet. Opening it they saw it packed full of Tristan's outgrown clothes. Tristan started pulling out the top layer of clothes. Right on top was a gray sweatshirt that was too small and there are were T-shirts and some jeans that Sean could wear. As Tristan picked up the shirt, a pair of boxers which had a large Batman logo on them fell to the floor.

"Can I wear those?" Sean asked with an anxious hopeful look up at Tristan.

"Well, yeah. Those were my favorites when I was in grade school," Tristan answered. "Sure, you can wear them," he reaffirmed.

Only then did Sean let a small smile touch his lips. "Cool," was his comment. "I'll take the sweatshirt too and that's it."

"You sure? Just the boxers and the sweatshirt?" Tristan asked.

"Yeah, if it's OK with you," Sean's face took on a scared and haunted look as he said that.

Tristan would have agreed to anything to take that look from Sean's face. "Sure, no problem at all." Tristan handed Sean the clean clothes and then picked up the excess ones to put back into the box. Sean stood there watching, clutching the clean clothes while the tears ran down his face.

Tristan didn't know until he stood up and turned around to see Sean standing there with a bowed head, his body trembling.

"Awww, Sean, what's wrong?" he asked.

"N...n...nothing is wrong," the smaller boy replied. "It's just that no one has been nice to me for so long. I'm not worth it."

"Not worth it? Bullshit. You are to me, to Drew, to David, and everyone else who is a decent person. No, you are not worthless Sean. Isn't that right Drew?" Tristan turned to ask Drew who was leaning against the doorway, watching.

"Yup, he's right Sean," Drew agreed.

Ruffling Sean's hair, Tristan said, "Come on, let's get you showered now. I'll get you a towel. Do you need any other help?" Tristan asked quietly.

"Uh, no, I don't think so," Sean replied blushing slightly.

Tristan escorted Sean into the bathroom and pulled a towel out of the linen closet. "There you are Sean. Take all the time you want and if you need anything just holler, OK?"

"Yeah, OK," Sean answered softly and waited for Tristan and Drew to leave so he could undress.

The other two boys left the bathroom then, giving Sean the privacy he wanted. "Want a soda or something?" Tristan asked Drew.

"Sure, whatever you have would be good," Drew replied. "That Sean has a fucked up home life, doesn't he?" Drew observed.

"Yeah, it sure looks like it, doesn't it?" Tristan agreed before going to the fridge. He heard the water to the shower start running. "So far so good," Tristan thought to himself. It didn't last long. The next thing Tristan knew was he heard a yelp of pain coming from the bathroom and a muffled thud.

Drew had been in the front room meanwhile flipping channels on the TV and the two boys nearly collided in their haste to get to the bathroom. Tristan wrenched open the door asking "What's wrong?" as he opened it.

Crouched down, Sean shrieked, "Turn off the water, it stings too bad."

Tristan reached in over Sean who was huddled on his haunches away from the shower spray and shut the water off. Sean remained crouching where he was at the back of the shower, his arms clasped tightly around his knees, his back slightly facing outwards. It was quite the pathetic sight. Every bruise and belt mark on Sean's back was evident to Tristan and Drew as they looked down at him. Pale streaks of watery blood ran down his back from the broken skin across his shoulder blades.

Drew sucked a low exclamation. "Jesus Kee-rist," he swore. "Your poor back! Why would your old man do that you?" Drew demanded angrily.

With his head down Sean said almost inaudibly, "Because I'm bad."

Tristan said quietly and compassionately, "Sean, you aren't bad. And no one deserves to be whipped for anything."

"Yeah, tell us what your asshole dad thinks is so bad," Drew said angrily and then said in the next breath, "how in the world could the Sean we see in music everyday be so bad?"

"Can we not talk about it, please?" Sean begged as he looked up to display the tears trickling down his cheeks.

"Sure Sean, we can talk later," Tristan agreed as he had not seen a more pathetic sight in his life than Sean crouched down to hide his nakedness, displaying instead a shame of a different sort since his back was a riot of mottled colors.

Drew picked up the towel and held it ready for Sean. "Here you are, Sean. Let's get you dried off," he said gently in his low voice.

"No," Sean said. "I'm still dirty and gross. Maybe if I had a wash cloth and soap I could take a bath instead?"

"Sure, no prob," Tristan agreed and went to get a clean washcloth and gave it to Sean. Tristan motioned with his head for them to leave. "We'll be right back Sean, you just use this washcloth here, OK?"

"OK," was Sean's quiet reply.

Tristan followed Drew out and closed the door once more. "You can't make him tell you that way," Tristan said to Drew. "Let me try to coax it out of him cuz he'll just shut up when you try to push him."

"Yeah, I saw that. So now what?" Drew asked, shaking his head abruptly as if to clear it.

"We finish getting him clean, we talk to him gently and we tell my dad. He'll know what to do cuz we can't let Sean go back."

"Not to be treated like that, that's for damn sure!" Drew exclaimed.

"So here's what we do," Tristan suggested. "You sit with him after he's dry and hold him if he'll let you. I'll go in my dad's bedroom and call my dad when Sean won't notice."

Drew rolled his eyes. "You want me to hold him?"

"Hey, I've watched you with Anthony. I know you can do it," Tristan said cryptically.

Drew blushed and didn't say another word.

"How's it going Sean?" Tristan called through the door.

A quiet answer could be heard but Tristan couldn't make out the words. He opened the door. "What did you say, I couldn't tell," Tristan said.

"Not, not so good," Sean stammered. "I don't have any soap."

"Yes there's soap there. It's body soap in the bottle up there. You see it?" Tristan replied.

"Oh, I thought it was shampoo," Sean said blushing.

"You need help?" Tristan asked again.

"Well, what about shampoo?" Sean asked. "And how am I going to do it with my back all sore? It stings like crazy when I get water on it."

"You can use mine if you want, its the strawberry scented stuff up there. I'll get a big bowl and we can pour water over your head. Will that work?" Tristan asked.

"Yeah, I guess so," Sean said after a slight hesitation.

"You afraid I'll see your cock?" Tristan asked bluntly.

"Yes," Sean whispered.

"Don't worry about it Sean. We're both guys here and you can cover it up with the washcloth if you want. Besides, I see David, Drew, and lotsa of other guys naked all the time when we dress for football. One more or less isn't going to change anything."

"My dad says being naked is immoral and is the doorway to sin," Sean confided while his gaze darted nervously around the room, looking down nervously while he shyly draped the washcloth over his privates.

"Huh, being naked is the most natural thing in the world," Tristan responded. "I think the natural body is the most beautiful thing there is and it doesn't make me do bad things. So don't worry about it, OK Sean?"

"I'll try not to, but it's not what my dad says," Sean. "He's really strict about it too. He'd call me a perverted faggot for sure if he knew another guy was in the bathroom with me while I naked."

"That's the dumbest thing I ever heard," Tristan scoffed. "Being naked in the same room with another guy does not make anyone gay! That would mean that everyone on the football team is gay then, so do you think all those football guys are gay? Does Drew look like he's gay?"

"Ummm, no." Sean sat there silently looking down while shielding his groin with the washcloth and also with his hands.

"Say, do you know Isaac Johnson also known as Stubby?" Tristan asked out of the blue.

Sean's eyes snapped up to look at Tristan. "Yeah, he goes to our church, why do you ask?"

"Cuz me and Drew had a little trouble with Stubby after football practice one day and he said the same kinda things like your dad. Stubby got kicked off the football team and later Drew had a serious little chat with him about that stuff."

"Yeah, he hates you guys with a passion. He's talked about you in our youth group.`"

"So why don't you if you go to that church, Sean?

"Why don't I what?" Sean asked with a confused frown.

"Hate us too," Tristan stated.

"Yeah," interjected Drew from the doorway.

"I dunno for sure, there was just something about you that told me you'd be my friends. I've always felt like I could trust you or something," Sean said blushing the entire time.

"Good," Drew said in his low voice.

"Yeah, good, friends look out for each other just like we are doing for you Sean," Tristan concluded. "You ready for your hair now?"

"Guess so."

"Kay Drew, I'll run water out of the sink into the bowl there, Drew, and you get Sean's hair washed then," Tristan directed. While Sean bent his head down Tristan poured water over his head to wet his hair. Then Drew got set to wash Sean's hair. When he first put his fingers to Sean's head, Sean jumped and tensed up. "It's OK buddy, I won't hurt ya, just relax," Drew said gently.

Sean relaxed just a fraction but as Drew scrubbed in the shampoo with his fingertips and was massaging Sean's scalp it began to feel wonderful. The physical contact from someone who made him feel good was a touch Sean had almost forgotten how exquisitely good it could feel. Almost against his will Sean began to relax and enjoy Drew's strong fingers scrubbing away. An involuntary "Oooooh" escaped his mouth as Drew's pinky fingers brushed across his small, cute ears. And during the rinsing Sean let out a slight gasp as Drew's fingers traveled lightly down Sean's head and wiped the excess soap from the back of his neck. The conditioner and more scrubbing by Drew followed and after a final rinsing Sean sat up slowly looking like he was half asleep because he was so relaxed. Sean wiped the excess water away from his eyes with his fingers.

"Kay, here's the towel," Tristan handed Sean the dry towel. "We'll let you get dried off and dressed and you can meet us in the front room, OK? And we can throw your dirty clothes in the washing machine for ya."

"OK, fine," Sean answered still shielding himself from view. Sean stood up and pivoted out of the tub behind the towel Drew held up. Both boys saw the blues, greens, and yellow discoloration from the bruises that marred the rounded globes of his slim little butt. Tristan thought to himself how cute Sean's little butt was despite the bruising. It had that perfect natural shape that only young teen guys have.

"Holler if you need anything else," Tristan said and then left, closing the door.

"You shouldn't wash those clothes," Drew said right away once they had left Sean. "They're evidence."

"Oh my god, I didn't think of that!" Tristan gasped.

"Yeah, so put them in a bag and get them put away for later," Drew suggested.

Tristan bundled Sean's dirty clothes into a plastic bag and hid it in the closet. It wasn't much longer and a much cleaner Sean came out of the bathroom with his short auburn hair sticking up in front. He was wearing the clean sweatshirt and Batman boxers of Tristan's and he looked altogether different.

"You wanna watch TV on the couch?" Tristan asked.

"Sure, if you do," Sean replied.

"Come over here bud, and sit with me," Drew told him. "I'll keep ya company, kay?"

Tristan fiddled with the TV and found a cartoon. "There, how's that?"

Sean sat down carefully near Drew and they watched cartoons. Soon the boys were all laughing at the cartoon's antics. Even Sean began to laugh as he began to relax and enjoy hanging out with Drew and Tristan. "I'm cold," Sean complained before long.

"Here's an afghan," Drew said as he pulled one from nearby. "Come over here and sit next to me and cover up and you'll get warm in a hurry," Drew suggested.

Sean did as he was told and soon was cuddled up next to Drew. Drew put his arm around Sean and that's when the waterworks started. The tears started rolling down Sean's face and his body was shaking from sobs being held in.

"What's wrong, Sean?" Drew asked softly. "You're safe here, nobody is gonna hurt you no more," he reassured the smaller boy and gave his shoulders a squeeze.

"Yeah, for now, but what about when I have to go home?" Sean said fearfully. "This is so nice to be here like this, but when I go home it will have been like a dream, and when I thought of that it made me cry," Sean said brokenly.

"We'll see about that," Tristan said firmly.

"What can you do?" Sean said in disbelief. "I can't stay here with you. My dad will make me come home."

"For what? To beat you and whip you?" Drew asked quickly.

Sean hung his head and didn't say anything for the longest time. Finally he answered. "I dunno," he whispered almost inaudibly. Then he started and sucked in a quick breath before looking up with a scared expression.

"We're not going to let you go back to be treated like that, are we Drew?" Tristan said firmly.

"No, we aren't!" Drew agreed.

"But how?" Sean asked.

"I dunno yet," Tristan admitted. "We'll figure something out, don't you worry."

"Kay," Sean said and then he just stared at the television, not really watching it until the next thing the boys knew Sean was sleeping.

Drew continued to hold him close and finally secure in the arm of a trusted friend, Sean found a warm and safe place to where he could sleep after having cried himself an exhausted sleep the previous night. Sean's face was resting against Drew's right shoulder, his rosey lips open slightly as he slept.

Drew pantomimed holding a phone to his ear and then waved Tristan away while the television continued its inane sounds from the cartoon.

Tristan shrugged his shoulders and signaled that he didn't understand.

Drew tried again. He pointed to Tristan, then held an imaginary phone to his ear and then firmly pointed out of the room.

Tristan mouthed a silent "oh" and shook his head yes. He left the room and went into his dad's bedroom to their other phone and dialed a number from memory. "Hello, I need to talk with my dad, Randy Cochran please.....yes, it's real important....kay, I'll wait. Dad, it's me. I'm at home. Well...its kinda a long story Dad. I'm OK, but there's this friend who isn't and he's here with me and Drew. NO. I can't. He has to stay here. Dad, you have to come at noon. Yeah Dad, it is that important. OK, I'll have some lunch made."

When Tristan came back, it was obvious that Sean was sleeping hard. He was breathing deep breaths and had turned into Drew's side, huddled next to the larger boy. Drew raised his eyebrows in a silent question.

"Dad is coming home at noon," Tristan whispered. "But you know what? David and Anthony don't know where we are."

"I know," Drew whispered softly back. "I had thought of it too while you were on the phone. They're going to be worried that we are both gone without telling anyone."

"So what do we do?" Tristan asked. "We can't just call the school and leave them a message, can we?"

"Noooo, we can't," Drew agreed. "You know we could get kicked off the football team for skipping school like this," Drew grimaced as he quietly voiced thoughts.

"Yeah, Drew. You need to go back to school before lunchtime," Tristan said as he made up his mind. "If I get kicked off the team, David won't like it but no one else will really care."

"That's not true," Drew immediately disagreed. "But since Sean is here, you need to stay. And yeah, we don't need to have David and Anthony freaking out on us so I'll go back like you said. "What time is it now?" he asked.

"Almost 10 o'clock."

"OK, if Sean doesn't wake up before 11:30 I'll slip away and head back to school."

Tristan nodded his head. "Yeah, good plan. You still OK with holding him?"

"Yeah, I'm OK. You could try to find something more interesting than this on the TV though."

Tristan flipped channels until he found the game shows. They watched Ted Barker strut his stuff in front of the TV audience and laughed silently at the dumb answers some of the guests came up with. Tristan helped Drew with his Coke when he wanted sips. He would move and stretch slightly from time to time and each time Sean would snuggle back down with a soft "uhhh".

The large hand on the decorative clock crawled around once, then finally it pointed down. Drew stretched his long legs out while pressing back into the back of the couch. He rubbed Sean's shoulder with his encircling arm as he spoke softly to the stirring boy at his side. "Sean, can you wake up here? I gotta go back to school, but Tristan is gonna stay with you."

Sean's eyes opened slowly and it took him a moment to focus them before he sat up. He stretched too and then rubbed his eyes sleepily. "You're not staying?" Sean asked Drew dejectedly, leaning back into the couch and pulling his legs up underneath him while adjusting the afghan to cover them once more.

"I want to stay, but I can't," Drew explained. "I can't miss football practice cuz I might be kicked off the team otherwise. Tristan will stay here with you." Drew stood up and stretched again. 'Oh, that feels good." He then looked over at Tristan and said, "I'll tell the guys why you can't come Tristan," before Sean's scared look made him add, "because of an emergency at home."

"Yeah, sounds good," Tristan smiled back at Drew catching the intended message. "I'll talk to you later then. And tell David to call me too, OK?"

"I sure will," Drew said and he left.

"Will you be OK if I go make us some lunch?" Tristan asked.

"Yeah, I guess," Sean answered. "What are you making?"

"Soup and sandwiches I guess. Is that OK?"

"Yeah, what kinds of soup you have?"

Tristan went out into the kitchen and dug in the cupboard a moment before calling back, "Chicken noodle, tomato, cream of mushroom, and clam chowder.

What kind do you want?"

"I dunno. What kind of sandwiches we having?"

"Ummm, let me see what's in the fridge. Well, not much here so we can either have grilled cheese or tuna fish sandwiches."

"Well, if its OK with you, grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup sounds really good."

Tristan busied himself making their lunch while he waited for Randy to arrive. He was a little nervous since Randy didn't exactly sound very pleased.

Randy came through the door right after the noon whistle blew. "Now what is this about you staying home with a sick friend? Why can't he stay at his own place?" Randy demanded.

"Shush, Dad. He's in the front room," Tristan explained as he gestured to his dad to be hold it down.

Randy rolled his eyes. "Then you'd better show me or tell me what this is all about."

Tristan turned off the stove and led the way into the front room where Sean sat looking extremely scared. Now Sean's legs were pulled up tightly against his chest and his arms were wrapped tightly around his knees, his face white and drawn with fear.

"Dad, this is Sean and he sings with me and Drew. His dad beat him last night and he wasn't in very good shape this morning."

Sean's face went pale white and his mouth dropped open with a gasp of surprise. He looked to Tristan, then at Randy, and back to Tristan with a haunted expression on his face. "That's not true!" Sean said in a quivery voice still clutching the afghan to him tightly in a protective cocoon.

Then it was Tristan's mouth that dropped open until he gathered himself to speak indignantly, "Sean, that's a load of crap if I ever heard one. I saw your back and you told me it was your dad who did it to you! So why are you lying about it?"

Sean just hung his head in shame and wouldn't speak.

Observing all of this silently Randy finally took action. He moved over to Sean and gently gathered Sean into his arms. Sean stiffened at the touch until Randy said, "I won't hurt you Sean, you're safe here. Tristan and I will do everything we can to help you if you will just trust us." Again the kind, loving words that Sean craved overwhelmed him and he collapsed into Randy's arms pouring out his hurt in deep, painful sobs. "Why......can't.....my dad....be more.....like you?" Sean cried in broken hearted tones. "Why does.... he have to....hate me so much?"

"Shhhhh, it's OK Sean, it's OK," Randy soothed in low tones. "You're safe here." Randy pulled the boy with him over to the couch. "Let's sit down, shall we?"

Sean just nodded his head against Randy's shoulder and let Randy guide him into sitting. They sat together as Sean gathered his composure once more, fighting a losing battle with the hiccups as a result of the deep sobs moments earlier.

"Tristan, get Sean some water, will you?" Randy asked as he looked over to his son.

"Sure Dad." Tristan quickly went to the kitchen, ran the water and came back with a glass. "Here Sean, drink some water and see if it will kill those hiccups of yours."

Sean reached out with his right arm and took the offered water. He drank, hiccuped again, drank once more and handed the glass back before settling back into Randy's side.

Randy resisted the urge to rub Sean's back like he would do for Tristan when he was younger and would come crying to him. That reminded him of the problem they faced. "Sean, would you let me see what the matter is with your back?" he asked gently. "Tristan said it was important for me to come home from work and he doesn't lie to me usually."

"Dad!" Tristan exclaimed, "I don't lie to you ever!"

"That's good to know," Randy said to his son before turning to look into Sean's face to make eye contact. "Will you let me peek?"

"What if I do?" Sean asked fearfully. "Then what?"

"I don't know. It depends on what we all decide here after I've seen it."

"Can I stay here?" Sean asked quietly.

"I don't know....let me look and then we can decide. I will promise you this Sean, that you have to agree to whatever we do first, OK?"

"OK," was the quiet reply. "You gonna look then?"

"Don't you think I should?" Randy questioned softly.

"I dunno. It might not look so good."

"Let me see," Randy answered as he gently began to unwrap the afghan from Sean's body. Sean sat there, not moving but letting Randy do the work. Air hissed from between Sean's teeth as Randy lifted the back of the sweatshirt, pulling it loose from a few spots of open sores. "Oh my God," Randy gasped in horror. "Your dad did this to you Sean?" he asked?

Silently Sean shook his head yes.

"See Dad why I had to bring him home?" Tristan chimed in.

"Yes, I certainly do," Randy said in a distant voice.

"So now what?" Tristan asked impatiently.

"I don't know for sure," Randy said with a sigh. "One thing for sure is that we can't let this happen again." Randy gently lowered the sweatshirt and pulled Sean back into his chest, holding the boy with both arms. "Sean, we have to tell someone you are here so that I don't get accused of harboring a runaway. The police or social services need to be told and to see for themselves why you are staying here."

"Do they really have to?" Sean said in a defeated voice.

"Yes, unless you want your dad to be able to make you come home once people find out where you are...and then I would face criminal charges. I don't think either of us wants those alternatives. So, anyone want to eat before we make a phone call or two?"

"Yeah, its all ready," Tristan said. "You want to eat?" he asked looking at Sean.

"I guess," Sean said, not really wanting Randy to let go of him. He never felt so safe as he did right then.

"OK, lets go into the kitchen and eat then," Randy announced as he dropped his arms away from Sean.

Sean pulled the afghan tighter. Already he missed the comfort and safety being held like that meant for him. He stood with the other two and ducked his head so they wouldn't see the tears that threatened to drip from his eyes once more.

Tristan lead the way and began dishing up the soup.

Randy watched Sean very closely and could tell that he was still very emotionally fragile. This was something totally beyond his experience and he badly wanted someone to help him.

The three of them ate their lunch and didn't speak beyond the polite necessities of being served. All three of them were caught up in their own thoughts as they ate. Sean wondered dully what would happen to him next while Tristan tried to keep from imagining how terrible it would be to have a father that would hurt his own flesh and blood that way. Randy reviewed his alternatives while he ate.

After they ate as much as they wanted and Tristan cleared away the dishes Randy looked over at Sean. "Sean, I'm going to call a person I really trust to help us with this. He'll know far better than me what needs to be done and how to do it in the best way possible. He has helped Tristan once before and so I am sure he will be willing to help us again today. What do you think about that?"

"I don't know," Sean said hesitantly as he peeked up at Randy while his hands twisted nervously in his lap. "Do we really have to have more people know about this? It's not like I want the whole world to know."

"Yes, I understand how you would feel that way," Randy said gently. "He's a person who knows how to handle things like this better than I do. So while I call him maybe Tristan can tell you why we trust him, OK?"

Sean wrung an imaginary cloth in this hands again and uttered a reluctant, "I guess."

"OK, I'm going to call him from the other phone. I'll be right back."

"So why is this guy so great?" Sean asked as soon as Randy left.

"Well, I met him by accident one day before school started. I slid under his truck with my bike and got all scraped up."

Sean listened raptly. "Then what?."

"Well he took me home and patched me up and he took care of me cuz my dad was at work. You see Sean, David and I were having this big fight and I was so upset I wasn't watching where I was going. And then later he saw me and David having this big word fight and he came and talked to me afterwards."

"You and David are best friends, aren't you?"

"Yeah, we are Sean. Really best friends. So anyway, I was like you. I didn't want him to have seen all of that and I didn't want to talk to him either. But he still talked and he helped me get things straight in my head. He's a really cool guy for his age and all. And he has had me, David and my Dad over to his house for a steak supper and David and I got to use his hot tub. So my dad is right, we really do trust him a lot."

Sean listened to what Tristan said but still the doubt showed on his face. "He won't like me," Sean said in such an assured voice that even Tristan was overwhelmed for the boy's lack of self esteem.

"Oh, I know you are wrong about that," Tristan said confidently. "He's the Dean of Men at the college and he knows all about helping guys with their problems. You'll see."

"Whatever," Sean replied dully.

At that moment Randy came back. "Craig is on his way over now. Did you want to move back to the front room to meet him or what?" he asked Sean.

"I wish I had some clothes on," Sean said as he gave that invisible cloth another good twisting.

"Tris, find something of yours for Sean to wear on his legs and get him some socks too," Randy instructed.

"Go with him Sean and help Tris find something you like. I'll get these dishes in the dishwasher before Craig gets here."

No sooner had they gotten their tasks done and had gotten Sean sitting on the couch again, albeit nervously, a car drove up and a knock came in short order on the back door. "I'll let him in," Randy said as he strode out of the room.

"Will you sit with me?" Sean asked Tristan in a shaky voice.

As Tristan sat down with Sean, Randy and Craig entered. "Sean, this is our friend Craig. Craig, this is Sean," Randy made the introductions.

Craig sat down on the edge of an easy chair. "Sean, I know you don't know me but Randy and Tristan are good friends of mine. Will you let me help them help you?"

Sean cringed against Tristan. "Tristan told me you helped him earlier this summer," he said weakly.

"Yes I did and it was a happy accident if there ever was such a thing." Craig said with a quick smile for Tristan.

"We want to help you. Randy has told me some things already. First, its good that you told someone. No parent has the right to do what was done to you, Sean, and the first thing we need to do is to make sure you are OK. And that you stay safe is the very next thing. So there are some things we need to do Sean. First, we need to let a doctor take a look at you. Just to make sure there you don't need any medical treatment. After the doctor sees you, we need to get a place arranged for you to stay where you are safe while your home situation is being evaluated."

"Can't I stay with one of my friends" Sean whimpered.

"Well, I hope so but it's not up to me. I will try my best to help it be something that you would be comfortable with, how's that?" Craig offered.

"Yeah, maybe at Daniel's. I don't know if his parents would let me though, Sean said thoughtfully.

"You can stay here if you want," Tristan blurted out.

Randy's only reply was to raise his eyebrows at his son.

Tristan knew that look. It meant "we will talk about this later".

Craig's heart ached for Sean. He saw how vulnerable and how emotionally abused Sean was. And he also realized in a flash that Randy didn't want to take on any more with having to ride the waves with the effects of Tristan's relationship with David.

"Yes, we have to sort all of these things out with the social worker," Craig agreed and tried not to box anyone into a corner. "So we have a busy afternoon ahead of ourselves. How about if I call a doctor I know and arrange for him to take a look at you?" Craig offered.

Sean raised his haunted eyes to meet Randy's, who urged him to agree, before making a slight nod. "Don't make me go alone," he pled.

"You don't have to go alone," Randy said. "Any one of us can stay with you if you want. It's entirely up to you who you would like to be there."

"Yes, that's right," Craig affirmed. "I am more than ready to do whatever I can for you Sean."

"Me too," Tristan chimed in.

"So who do you want to stay with you?" Randy asked.

Sean looked down and said very quietly, "You." Then he glanced over at Tristan and said, "Tristan, it's nothing against you."

"Tristan, I think you could help me out this afternoon while Sean is getting checked out," Craig suggested.

"With what?" Tristan asked.

"Seeing after the legalities that need to be taken care of," Craig said.

"Oh, OK, if Sean doesn't need me," Tristan double-checked.

"No, you go ahead and do that. It makes me feel better that you're helping me that way," Sean said to him after another quick glance.

"OK, so which doctor do we go see?" Randy asked of Craig.

"You can go to almost any doctor," Craig spoke thoughtfully, "but Dr. Olson would be the one I recommend. Let me go give his office a call and let them know you are coming in, OK?"

"Sure, there's a phone in the kitchen and in my bedroom. Use whichever one you would prefer," Randy offered.

"I think I'll use the one in your bedroom if you don't mind."

"Go right ahead," Randy said after giving Craig a quick glance to ascertain any outward motives.

Craig caught that and smiled briefly before heading off to the other room.

"Well, OK, we need to get you ready to go here." Randy looked him over and decided the only thing he really needed was his shoes. "If you would get your shoes on, we would be ready unless there is anything else?" Randy asked.

"I don't think so," Sean answered hesitantly.

"What is it?" Randy asked. "Are we forgetting something?"

"Uh no, not really. "Can Tristan come with us 'til we get there?" Sean said with beseeching eyes.

"I guess so," Randy agreed with a shrug. "It depends on what Craig's plans were to some extent."

"Oh," Sean said and seemed to shrink within himself.

Sean's reaction twisted Randy's heart and he heard himself say, "We'll work something out, Sean, don't you worry."

Sean gave a short little nod but said nothing.

At that moment Craig came back. "I got it arranged for Dr. Olson to see Sean first thing. If we go now he can get right in," Craig announced.

"OK, Sean wants Tristan to come along on the ride," Randy said, catching Craig's eye.

Craig gave a small nod saying, "That's fine, I'll follow in my car and we'll go from there."

Tristan and Sean rode in the Bronco with Randy and Craig followed them down to the doctor's office. Once parked they all went into the reception area where Craig approached the receptionist. "Dr. Olson is expecting us. I'm Dr. Craig Thompson and I just spoke with him about Sean."

"Yes, you can go back to Room 1 and wait there for Dr. Olson," she said.

"Oh, I'm not going back with him, Randy is. I'll take care of the paperwork end of this."

"Which paperwork is that?" the young receptionist asked.

"CPS. Has Dr. Olson advised you to call them?"

"No, he hasn't."

"Please do so on my authority then."

"Which would be what?"

"As Dean of Men and licensed youth counselor with the college."

"Yes Dr. Thompson, I will right away."

Tristan and Randy stood there staring with their mouths hanging down identically.

"What? Why are you two looking at me like that?" Craig asked with a frown.

Randy shook himself out of his stare. "I didn't know you were a doctor somebody."

"Me neither," Tristan seconded.

"I put my pants on just like you do so get over it," Craig said with a chuckle. "My doctorate is in youth counseling. I'm not a psychiatrist."

Sean hid behind Randy. "You didn't tell me he was one of those whacked-out head mechanics," Sean said accusingly to Tristan.

Tristan automatically rose the defense and turned around to say, "He is not a whacked-out head mechanic. He's been a great friend for me, David, and my dad so you won't go wrong listening to what he has to say."

"Whatever," Sean said in disbelief.

"Tristan has it exactly right," Craig said gently. "You'll see. First, you and need to see Dr. Olson and then we'll go from there.

A stout nurse came into the room and approached them. "We're ready for the young man who needs to see the doctor. Which one of you is it?"

"Me, I guess," Sean answered as he spoke to the floor.

"Come with me then. What's your name?" she asked.

"Sean."

"And your last name is?"

"Adams."

"OK Sean, you may come with me now."

Sean just stood there, not moving except for a slight trembling.

"Well, young man, are you coming?" the nurse asked with every bit as much starch in her voice as what held up her nurses cap.

"Can't he come too?" Sean's voice quavered as he asked the nurse while looking at Randy.

"Is he your father?" the nurse demanded.

"No, he's not my father," Sean confessed. "But I want him there."

"Are you an attorney?" the nurse asked Randy suspiciously.

Randy's eyebrows shot up. "You think I look like an attorney? You've got to be kidding. I'm just going with him for moral support."

"You can stay as long as the doctor permits it," she said as she leveled a stare at Randy. "He's waiting so will you both come now?" she demanded before turning and leading the way.

"Let's go Sean. It needs to be done." Randy carefully steered Sean by the shoulders as they marched in to face Sean's fears together.

Once they left Tristan spoke up as he looked over at Craig, "I didn't know you were a doctor. Why didn't you tell us?"

"Because titles get in the way of relationships at times and I didn't want that to happen with you and your dad, that's why. Both you and your dad changed your perception of me to some extent as soon as you heard it, didn't you?"

Tristan shrugged one shoulder. "I guess a little but mostly I was just surprised you hadn't told us before."

"Well, that was my reason. Today I needed to let my title do its job so we could help Sean. Also I need your help."

"Sure," Tristan answered right away. "What do you want me to do?"

"You need to be a witness and make a statement to the social worker who is on the way over."

"Will I get in trouble for skipping school?" Tristan asked with a worried look on his face.

Craig smiled back at Tristan. "No, you didn't do anything wrong. In fact, you did everything that matters right. Sean is very lucky to have you as a friend."

Tristan relaxed then and sat back before speaking, "Like what do I say?"

"Just answer any questions to the best of your ability."

"But Craig, what if they ask if you know..." and Tristan's voice trailed off.

"About you and David?" Craig asked intuitively.

"Yeah."

"Have you or David ever done anything along those lines with him," Craig asked straight out.

"No way!" Tristan emphatically denied.

"Then it shouldn't be a problem. Just stick to telling what you know for a fact about Sean and his situation and that's all you have to do. Can you do that?" Craig asked.

"Yeah, that's easy."

"Good. Just remember, we are doing all of this to help Sean find a way to live a normal life. And I mean a life where he isn't being abused by someone who should who love him and support him more anyone else."

"Um, yeah. Like my dad does for me," Tristan verbalized as he applied the concept to his own life.

"Exactly." Craig turned to the receptionist. "Is there a conference room we can use? The social worker will need to meet with us and Dr. Olson to determine an emergency course of action."

"Yes, let me show you to it," the young woman said respectfully before rising and leading them into the recesses of the clinic. She flipped the lights on in an interior room which revealed a room with a small conference table surrounded by half a dozen chairs within. "Thank you Rebecca," Craig said graciously as he sat. "Would you please have the social worker meet us back here when he or she arrives?"

"Yes Dr. Thompson, I will. Is there anything else you need?" the young lady asked as she paused inside the door.

"No, I don't believe we do, unless you need anything Tristan?" Craig said as he looked over at Tristan.

"Um, is there someplace I could get a Pepsi?" Tristan asked.

"Yes, we have a pop machine in our break room around the corner. I can show you where it is," she said agreeably.

Craig pulled some change and a dollar bill out of his pocket. "Here Tristan, get one for me too. We could be here for a while." When Tristan returned with the sodas the two of them sat and chatted. Craig purposefully did not talk about Sean or his situation.

Randy had steered Sean behind the nurse all the way into the examining room where Dr. Olson was indeed waiting. Dr. Olson was a younger man with a full head of dark hair. "OK, which one of you is Sean?" he said jokingly.

"Me," Sean said quietly.

"Hello Sean. You can call me 'doc' and I understand I need to take a look at you today."

"I guess so," Sean replied reluctantly.

"And who is with you?" Dr. Olson asked.

"I'm Randy Cochran, and he is my son's friend."

"OK Randy." Dr. Olson turned to Sean and asked intently, "Sean, I have two important questions to ask you. First, do you want him to be here with us?"

"Yeah," Sean said quietly.

"OK, second question. Is Mr. Cochran involved in any way with your injuries?"

"No," came the immediate answer.

"OK, good. Then we can proceed," Dr. Olson stated. "Sean, you need to tell me where you are hurt. Can you do that?"

"Um, just my back and my butt kinda."

"OK Sean, I need you to take off your shirt and slip your sweats down. Can you do that for me?"

Sean reached down to lift the sweat shirt over his head and as he started to lift, he winced and whimpered a painful gasp.

"What hurts?" Dr. Olson asked immediately.

"My back," Sean whimpered, "the sweatshirt is sticking to it."

"Oh oh," the doctor answered sympathetically. "It does have to come off and the sooner the better Sean. Let me help OK? I'll try not to make it hurt."

"OK," Sean sniffed back some unbidden tears.

"Here we go then. You lift the front of the sweatshirt while I lift the back, OK?"

Dr. Olson lifted up gently and peeked under the shirt. He could see that the welts were crusting to the sweatshirt and the cotton was embedding itself in the bare flesh. He did a surprising thing next by rapidly lifting the sweatshirt up to Sean's shoulders in one big swoop.

"Ouch!" Sean shrieked. "You said you wouldn't hurt me," he screeched angrily.

The doctor answered gently, "I'm very sorry but it's over now and you didn't have to wait for me to make it hurt inch by inch. We'll have you feeling better very shortly, I promise this time." His voice paused as he inspected Sean's back. "What has caused these marks and bruises Sean? Let's see, let me count the number of areas of broken skin. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine. And we have extensive bruising here, some old, some new. What has caused this Sean? You need to tell me son, so I can decide what we need to do for you."

The tears automatically began to drip down Sean's face as he was forced to endure his shame once again that day. "My dad beats me. Until yesterday he used a big yard stick and then he used an electric cord last night.

"Did he ever punch you or kick you?" the doctor asked quietly.

"No. Well only once."

"Where was that?"

"In the ribs."

"Did he punch you there or kick you?" Dr. Olson persisted.

"He punched me, to make me lie still before he beat me."

"I see. And for the record, why does your dad beat you?"

Sean remained silent. If possible, the tears streamed faster down his face and he began to shudder with suppressed sobs.

"You can tell me," the doctor said. "I've heard just about everything you can imagine at one time or another. It's OK for you to tell me," he said.

"He said he was trying to make a man out of me," Sean sobbed out.

"Why would he want to do that? You're a teenager and you won't be a fully grown man for some years yet," Dr. Olson questioned as he continued to inspect the battered back of his patient. A flash of bright light lit the room as the shutter of a camera clicked.

"Because I'm gay!" Sean spat out angrily. "And he said he would beat the spirit of Satan out of me." Then Sean gave one last broken, hopeless stare up at Dr. Olson who was putting a camera down before his eyes swung to the side and his knees collapsed. His sobbing grew louder in a heart broken symphony of pain where he lay huddled into a ball.

Randy was out of his chair in a flash and joined Dr. Olson at Sean's side, both men kneeling next to the young teen. He put his hand on Sean's leg and gently rubbed it while saying, "It's OK Sean, it's OK. You won't be hurt anymore, I promise." Slowly the sobbing died down as the two men talked softly to Sean and reassured him over and over. As the sobs died down, the two men gently picked Sean up from the floor and Randy had to practically hold him up. "Sean, would it be OK if you sat on my lap?" Randy asked with a voice strained with emotion. He was nearly in tears himself.

"OK," Sean agreed. Dr. Olson quickly pulled the chair over to the middle of the floor and had Sean sit sideways on Randy's lap.

"OK Sean, I'm going to use some sterile water and a swab to clean the areas of broken skin. It shouldn't hurt and you be sure to tell me if it does, OK?"

"OK," Sean agreed weakly.

Dr. Olson pulled the supplies he needed from the cabinets and expertly began to clean Sean's back. Sean gasped once or twice in the process but didn't complain. The doctor patted him dry while Randy continued to hold him. "Can you stand up for a moment?" Dr. Olson asked.

"I guess so," Sean said after a hesitation.

"You're being a great young man here," Dr. Olson said and before I bandage you I want to check a couple of things. First, I'm going to listen to your heart and lungs," as he pulled out his stethoscope. He did the usual doctor thing by listening at various places on Sean's chest. "OK, that's good. Are you ticklish?" he asked next.

"I dunno," Sean asked as he glanced over to Randy with a surprised look on his face.

"I'm going to feel your ribs with my fingers so be sure to tell me if anything hurts as I do," Dr. Olson explained. Quickly and expertly he pressed firmly and traced every one of Sean's ribs with his fingers. Sean flinched as his fingers ran over the lower ribs of the left side.

"Does it hurt when you breathe or when you lay down?" Dr. Olson asked.

"Not so much anymore," Sean admitted. "It did for a long time after my dad punched me."

"OK, it might have been a cracked rib that is mostly healed now," Dr. Olson diagnosed. "OK, we can put some ointment on your back and bandage it up now. This will feel pretty good since the ointment I'm using has a mild painkiller in it Sean," he explained. He was true to his word.

As Sean sat in Randy's lap again, he relaxed more and more as the doctor swabbed the ointment over large areas of Sean's back. He had the young teen stand up and then started wrapping gauze around and around Sean's chest and shoulders.

Randy started to chuckle. "Hey, I didn't know we were going to get him ready to play the part as 'The Mummy'.

Soon he was wrapped up and more comfortable than he'd been for weeks. Sean almost felt human.

Dr. Olson cleared his throat. "Sean, we have one more thing we have to do before we're through. You have to drop your pants so I can see your buttocks and make sure nothing is wrong. You said it was sore so I need to see it. Do you want Randy to leave while we do that?"

Sean shot an embarrassed glance and nodded once.

Randy stepped out the door saying, "I'll be waiting right outside," and Dr. Olson waited for Sean to slip down his pants. "Oh yes, I see bruises here too. Your dad didn't whip you here luckily. At least you can sit down. OK Sean, one last thing. I need to be make sure you weren't sexually abused. Just use your hands to spread your bottom cheeks for one minute will you please?"

Sean complied although he knew he blushed fire engine red.

The doctor made the necessary inspections. "OK, fine," Dr. Olson commented. "Turn around now. I need to see your front."

Still blushing fiercely Sean slowly turned. Dr. Olson took one look down there and saw no obvious injuries, nodded his head and said, "OK sport, we're all done. That wasn't so bad now was it?"

"Bad enough," Sean grumbled still obviously embarrassed.

"Well Sean, you did just fine and you are a normal healthy young man so you have nothing to be ashamed of. Would you like to get dressed now while I jot a few things down?"

"Yeah." Sean dressed himself rather awkwardly since he wasn't used to being wrapped in layers of bandage but he managed as the doctor scribbled away on some forms.

"Now, when you go out the nurse will weigh you and record your height and ask you a few more questions to complete our record, OK?" Dr. Olson said as he held out a prescription form. "This is a prescription for more of that cream I used on your back. You need to apply it once a day and wrap fresh bandages on your back for a week. Then I want to see you here next Tuesday, OK?"

"I guess, I'm not sure how I'll get here though," Sean objected mildly.

"I've already put it in my orders so I think it will be arranged," Dr. Olson explained. "You ready to rejoin your friends now or is there anything else we need to discuss?"

"No, there's nothing else," Sean said as he moved to the door.

"Sean," the doctor said gently.

Sean stopped in his tracks and turned around to face the doctor.

"You can come to me with anything at all, do you understand what I am saying? Here's my card with my beeper # on it. If you call it just tell the lady who answers who you are and what you need and she will beep me no matter what time of day or night. OK?" Dr. Olson said compassionately.

Sean gave him a long considering look before he nodded, took the card, and said, "OK." He stepped towards the door before he turned to look at Dr. Olson. "Thanks," he said peering up with his sad and still reddened eyes.

"You're very welcome Sean. Now let's go out there and get you finished up, shall we?" Dr. Olson rose and followed a visibly wrung-out Sean through the door.

During the time Sean and Randy were seeing Dr. Olson, Craig and Tristan were drinking their sodas. It was maybe fifteen minutes later when a woman in her 40's appeared in the doorway. She looked tired and her casual looking clothing was rather rumpled. "Hello Dr. Thompson. This is a bit unusual for you for be involved with someone this young, isn't it?" she asked without further preamble.

"Oh hello Nancy. Yes it is. And I'm glad to see you have this case. This young man is Tristan Cochran, a friend of Sean's. He's agreed to tell you what he knows about this situation, right Tristan?" Craig glanced back at Tristan as he reaffirmed Tristan's desire to help.

"Um, yeah," Tristan said a trifle nervously.

"Hi Tristan, I'm Nancy Peterson. I'm a social worker for the Child Protection State Division of Social Services. So what happened today?" as she said as she offered her hand to Tristan. After they shook hands briefly she sat down and opened her notebook. Skillfully she had Tristan tell her of the day's events so far while Craig silently listened. They were just finishing when the door opened and Randy brought a tired looking Sean in the room with him.

Nancy stood up immediately and introduced herself to Randy and Sean. Once more she took charge. "Sean, you and I can either talk alone or with your friends present. It's up to you so you need to tell me what you would like to do. I'm here to help you in any way I possibly can. By the time we are done we know what we need to do next.

"They already know the whole thing anyway, they can stay," Sean assented.

"OK that's fine. Sean, I work for the Department of Health and specifically the Division of Child Protective Services. Do you know what that means?" she asked him.

Sean grimaced and then replied, "Yeah, you put kids in foster homes but I'm not going to one of those. Tristan asked me to stay with him."

Nancy sat back and scanned the faces of the rest of the group. Of course Tristan was nodding his head yes, Craig was looking over at Randy, and Randy clearly was feeling the pressure. "Is that right Mr. Cochran, you are prepared to take Sean into your home for an indefinite period of time?"

Randy cleared his throat and answered, "I guess so. I wasn't prepared for any of this but I think we can make it work as long as the boys cooperate. I don't have a bed for him or anything, but that much is fixable."

"There is a stipend that we can pay you to help defer some of your expenses Mr. Cochran. I have to warn you that this may take some time to resolve. The other issue is that you are not formally approved to be providing foster care."

"I don't care about that crap!" Sean exploded. "Already he's been one hundred, no, one thousand times better to me than my old man. I won't make him any trouble, I promise."

Mz. Peterson took in Sean's outburst with a studied calmness. "Young man, we will try to do what is best for you but it has to be something that everyone concerned finds acceptable. And it would be best for us to consider all of the alternatives before we act."

At that moment Dr. Olson entered the conference room. "I have just a minute to spare Nancy. Sean has contusions and bruises from his shoulders down to his buttocks from being struck numerous times at various intervals with a rod or a heavy stick to cause the bruises. The contusions are caused by some type of whip. I have a photo."

"Thank you Dr. Olson. We were just deciding where to place Sean."

"Mz. Peterson, if you have no other place for him I would gladly take him," Dr. Olson dropped his bombshell.

"My home is open to him as well and I have a room that is ready for him to move into," Craig blurted out.

Silence reigned as everyone in the room looked at each other in surprise. No one was more surprised than Sean. It seemed like everyone wanted him, except maybe for Randy.

OK, there's the cliffhanger. What is going to happen with Sean? I have no idea at this point. Any thoughts would be appreciated so send them to me at ndman72@yahoo.com.

For those of you who have been anxiously waiting for the payoff of the big bet during the campout I apologize for making you wait again. This new character named Sean showed up and as life goes sometimes, demanded that we pay attention to his situation.